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Friday, December 31, 2010

Here are some pictures (new to my eyes) of the former Latin rite monastery of Orthodox monks upon the holy mountain Athos (which closed in 1287 due to a dwindling brotherhood). Hat tip: Mystagogy blog.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Ad multos annos! Many Years to the newly-ordained priest Irenaios Watson. Father was ordained at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Millville, NJ, on Dec. 5, 2010. Father will serve in the Western rite portion of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

left: Bishop Jerome. right: Priest Irenaios Watson

Please pray for Fr. Irenaios, that having toiled with fidelity in the vineyard of Christ's Holy Church, he may receive the high reward of his calling at the eternal Throne of God.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

The following illustration of a priest shows the form Western rite vestments had, before they were transformed under the influence of the Roman-catholic church.

Below is a 12th century Western rite alb, from Italy. It is clearly a pre-20th century alb in that the sleeves are narrow. The striking similarity between this garment and the modern day Byzantine sticharion with cuffs is highlighted here not to imply that the Western rite must follow Byzantine precedents, but to show that the gap is not as wide as many imagine it to be. The Western rite, in former days, was comfortable with silk albs of green, red, gold, blue... We can be concerned to keep the gap between ER and WR as wide as possible, as a matter of ritual purism or ethnic pride, but another path is equally available to us--that of emphasising the original harmony between the two rites. Pastoral service should guide these decisions, and rigid lines in the sand should be avoided. For, all too often, we then begin to snipe at those who cross our precious limits.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Fr. Hieromonk Joshua Anna, newly received into the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, is in the process of founding a new Western rite monastery under the oversight of Metr. Hilarion. A donor has given 48 acres of high desert land, located at the foot of the Mazano Mountains (a spur of the Rocky Mountains), east of Belen. From 30,000 to 50,000 cement blocks have been pledged for construction of the monastery, and an accomplished architect has pledged to donate his services.

Fr. Joshua is a founder of SGOMA, the St. George Orthodox Military Association. (This organisation was pointed out to me last Sunday by the wife of a military officer who is attending our Russian Orthodox parish in Austin.) He has also founded the St. Maria the Martyr Hospitality Outreach, to help the needy and homeless.

above: Hieromonk Joshua

Fr. Joshua has the idea of supporting Orthodox missions by making available to them a travelling adobe-brick-making machine (not true adobe, since it's 8% cement for greater strength). The machine could arrive at a place where a mission needs a chapel, the parishioners can be trained how to make the materials to build a simple chapel. Then the apparatus can move on to help the next needy mission.

Our readers are asked to pray and intercede for Fr. Joshua and the new Monastery of St. George, that they may bring forth fruit in their spiritual labours, extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one, and demonstrate to many souls the true path which leads to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Don't forget, the monastic Fathers can be helped in their struggle by your support of them.